School lunch prices, menu to change

Published: Monday, April 16, 2012 at 10:29 p.m.

Last Modified: Monday, April 16, 2012 at 10:29 p.m.

The price of a school lunch will increase 10 cents next year at Henderson County schools, School Board members decided Monday.

Currently, lunch costs $2.05 for elementary school students and $2.30 for middle and high school students. The prices will increase to $2.15 and $2.40 when students return to school next school year. Breakfast prices will not change.

The increase is mandated by the federal government through the 2010 Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act, said Christina Dodd, HCPS Child Nutrition director. The federal law impacts school systems participating in the National School Lunch Program, which reimburses school districts for free and reduced meals provided to students.

The government reimburses the Henderson County school system $2.79 for each free lunch served, but the school system charges paying students less than that amount. According to the government, any school system charging less than the national average of $2.51 for a paid lunch is required to either gradually increase prices to hit the average or provide additional non-federal support for its lunches, Dodd said.

For Henderson County, the difference between the free lunch price and the nation’s average lunch price is 28 cents. The USDA requires local school systems to raise their paid meal prices for 2012-13 by a minimum of 10 cents per lunch, Dodd said.

“It’s a lot of ask parents to pay $2.51 for a meal,” she added. “That’s why we are asking the board for this (the incremental approach to the average).”

Because the federal funds are routed to local school districts through the state Department of Public Instruction, school systems can be threatened with a cut-off of federal funding by the state if they don’t comply with the mandated price increases, Dodd said when board members asked what would happen if they decided to just say no.

The other option is that the school board could make up the difference, Dodd said. The non-federal funds needed would be a total of $34,924 for 2012-13. School Board members did not discuss the option.

Menu changes

In her presentation to the board, Dodd also explained that new federal meal pattern requirements will go into effect with the upcoming school year.

School menus are currently constructed based on USDA-recommended regular daily requirements for good nutrition, she said. Nutrition information the government looks at include calories, fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, trans fat, calcium, iron and vitamins.

Target nutrition areas, such as calories served and sodium amounts, will be monitored under the new federal program, she said.

New federal guidelines for calorie requirements per meal based on grade level are:

• 550-650 for grades k-5

• 600-700 for grades 6-8

• 750-850 for grades 9-12

A reduction in sodium levels under the new plan pose a potential problem, she said, as the government wants the school district to go from its current amount of 1,230 milligrams to ultimately 630 milligrams as part of a 10-year plan.

“There are 110-150 milligrams in just one slice of bread and 125 milligrams of sodium in a pint of milk,” she said. “I am nervous about this. And is it palatable, is our question.”

One way the schools could achieve this is to remove condiments such as ketchup, and replace higher-sodium salad dressings with low-sodium salad dressings, she said.

School Board member Amy Lynn Holt said she was shocked when she learned her children were eating pizza, chips and ice cream for lunch after she began going online to purchase their school lunches.

Pizza falls within the guidelines, Dodd said. She added that she has faced backlash from parents when suggestions were made to students about making heathier food choices.

“I have had some parents call me up and say, ‘Who are you to tell my kids what they can and can’t buy?’ she said.

There is increased participation in making better food choices whenever the schools have education programs about the subject, she noted.

Board members asked Dodd to report back to them in the fall about the level of participation by students in eating the school lunches prepared under the new guidelines.

Other actions the board took Monday were:

• Approved an Acceptable Use of Internet and Computer Resources policy.

• Approved teachers eligible for career status.

• Approved an audit contract for services from Carland & Andersen, a local accounting firm.

• Approved school calendars for next year. The general assembly is expected to make a final decision about start dates, but the county’s 2012-13 school calendars will have 180 days, Superintendent David Jones said.

• Approved a resolution authorizing the adoption of the NC 457 Plan for school district employees.

<p>The price of a school lunch will increase 10 cents next year at Henderson County schools, School Board members decided Monday. </p><p>Currently, lunch costs $2.05 for elementary school students and $2.30 for middle and high school students. The prices will increase to $2.15 and $2.40 when students return to school next school year. Breakfast prices will not change. </p><p>The increase is mandated by the federal government through the 2010 Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act, said Christina Dodd, HCPS Child Nutrition director. The federal law impacts school systems participating in the National School Lunch Program, which reimburses school districts for free and reduced meals provided to students. </p><p>The government reimburses the Henderson County school system $2.79 for each free lunch served, but the school system charges paying students less than that amount. According to the government, any school system charging less than the national average of $2.51 for a paid lunch is required to either gradually increase prices to hit the average or provide additional non-federal support for its lunches, Dodd said.</p><p>For Henderson County, the difference between the free lunch price and the nation's average lunch price is 28 cents. The USDA requires local school systems to raise their paid meal prices for 2012-13 by a minimum of 10 cents per lunch, Dodd said. </p><p>“It's a lot of ask parents to pay $2.51 for a meal,” she added. “That's why we are asking the board for this (the incremental approach to the average).” </p><p>Because the federal funds are routed to local school districts through the state Department of Public Instruction, school systems can be threatened with a cut-off of federal funding by the state if they don't comply with the mandated price increases, Dodd said when board members asked what would happen if they decided to just say no. </p><p>The other option is that the school board could make up the difference, Dodd said. The non-federal funds needed would be a total of $34,924 for 2012-13. School Board members did not discuss the option. </p><p><b>Menu changes</b></p><p>In her presentation to the board, Dodd also explained that new federal meal pattern requirements will go into effect with the upcoming school year.</p><p>School menus are currently constructed based on USDA-recommended regular daily requirements for good nutrition, she said. Nutrition information the government looks at include calories, fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, trans fat, calcium, iron and vitamins. </p><p>Target nutrition areas, such as calories served and sodium amounts, will be monitored under the new federal program, she said. </p><p>New federal guidelines for calorie requirements per meal based on grade level are:</p><p>• 550-650 for grades k-5</p><p>• 600-700 for grades 6-8</p><p>• 750-850 for grades 9-12</p><p>A reduction in sodium levels under the new plan pose a potential problem, she said, as the government wants the school district to go from its current amount of 1,230 milligrams to ultimately 630 milligrams as part of a 10-year plan.</p><p>“There are 110-150 milligrams in just one slice of bread and 125 milligrams of sodium in a pint of milk,” she said. “I am nervous about this. And is it palatable, is our question.”</p><p>One way the schools could achieve this is to remove condiments such as ketchup, and replace higher-sodium salad dressings with low-sodium salad dressings, she said. </p><p>School Board member Amy Lynn Holt said she was shocked when she learned her children were eating pizza, chips and ice cream for lunch after she began going online to purchase their school lunches. </p><p>Pizza falls within the guidelines, Dodd said. She added that she has faced backlash from parents when suggestions were made to students about making heathier food choices.</p><p>“I have had some parents call me up and say, 'Who are you to tell my kids what they can and can't buy?' she said. </p><p>There is increased participation in making better food choices whenever the schools have education programs about the subject, she noted.</p><p>Board members asked Dodd to report back to them in the fall about the level of participation by students in eating the school lunches prepared under the new guidelines.</p><p>Other actions the board took Monday were:</p><p>• Approved an Acceptable Use of Internet and Computer Resources policy.</p><p>• Approved teachers eligible for career status.</p><p>• Approved an audit contract for services from Carland & Andersen, a local accounting firm.</p><p>• Approved school calendars for next year. The general assembly is expected to make a final decision about start dates, but the county's 2012-13 school calendars will have 180 days, Superintendent David Jones said.</p><p>• Approved a resolution authorizing the adoption of the NC 457 Plan for school district employees.</p><p>• Approved a Public School Capital Fund (NC Education Lottery Application).</p><p>Reach Kelley at 828-694-7871 or at leigh.kelley@blueridgenow.com.</p>